Filing device



NOV. 28, 1933. c YL 1,937,098

FILING DEVICE Filed Nov. 15, 1928 2 sheets-sheet 1 Nov. 28, 1933. J g, SEYL 1,937,098

Filed NW. 15, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Nov. 28, 1933 j a I I uNrrEosTATEs PATIENT OFFICE F FILING DEVICE Joseph 0. Soy], Evanston, Ill.

' Application November'15, 1928 Serial'No. 319,495

14 Claims. (01. 129-16) The present invention relates generally to part of this specification or disclosure and in filing devices. More particularly the invention which like numerals and characters of reference relates to that type of filing device which is used denote corresponding'parts throughout the several in connection with a cabinet drawer and comviews: 1 a r I I prises longitudinally adjustable partitions or Figure 1 is aperspective view of a cabinet plates for separating groups of papers from one drawer provided with a'filing device embodying another. a one form of the invention, parts of the drawer- One object of the invention is to provide a filing being broken away for illustrative purposes; device of this type which embodies novel means Figure l is a detail perspective'view of one of for conjointly locking the partitions in their the pin and slot connections between'the push65 various assigned positions, such means being inbar of the locking means and the bottom of the dependent of and in addition to the means wheredrawer; l i by the partitions are supported so that they may Figure 2 is a transverse se tionof the member be adjusted backwardly or frontwardly in the for supporting the partitions, disclosing the 15 cabinet drawer. manner in which the locking mem bers on the 70 Another object of the invention is the propartitions are conjointly controlled; I F vision, of locking means of the aforesaid type I Figure 3 is a fragmentary perspective viewof which is operative in conjunction with the adone of the-partitions, showingin detailfthemeanls justing means to permit the partitions to be swung whereby the partition; is fsupported'flfo'r longior tilted longitudinally for the purpose of fa'cilitudinal adjustment; n Y a tating access to the filed papers. Figure i'is a view partlyin section and-part Another object of the invention is to provide ly in elevation, illustrating the positionnormalv a filing cabinet drawer in which the partitions lyassumedfby the partitions;. a 5 are supported in an improved manner so that they. Figure 5 is av perspective jview of a {drawer are free to swing forwardly and backwardlyto a having incorporated therewith a filing device em- 80 limited degree and are longitudinally adjustable bodying a second form of the invention, parts substantially the entire length of the drawer. beingomitted for bettermentinillustration;

A further object of theinvention is the pro-f Figure 6 is a fragmentary plan. viewshowing vision of locking'means for the partitions which the manner in which the lock bar of the' 'partiis of new and improved construction and'comt ion locking means ofthe second construction is 8'5] prises elements thatare mounted on the partitions shifted transversely out of engagement with the and adapted to be manipulated manually in the locking pins on the partitions; ,i'f. event that individual adjustment of the parti- Figure 7is a detailsectional-view of one of the v tions is desired. v rack and pinion connections which operates to A still further object of the invention is to support thepartitionsof the Figure 5- arrangef 90v p d filing device Which is of a it ry Gharment so that theymaybe shifted backwar'dly and acter and may be applied readily to a cabinet forwardly in the draweryand drawer having a channelled bottom and sub- Figure 8 is a longitudinalsectionalviw of the stituted for the usual follower-block and blocklocking pin for oneof the .partitionsfand' the. h N 40 retaining means. parts associated therewith. 95

Another object of the invention is to provide The invention is exemplified in a filingdevice v I an improved filing device which may beproduced. for use in connection "with a drawer D'of the at a comparatively low cost and in which facility type that is associated with a cabinet or analoof adjustment and variability of action of the gous supporting structure and is operative .to

various parts are combined with durability and hold and store papers or like, material. 'Two 100 compactness of construction. forms or embodiments of the invention nare 'il- Other objects of the invention and the various lustrated in the drawings. The device disclosed advantages and characteristics of the present in Figures 1, 1 2, 3 and 4 'is' of a unitary charconstruction will be apparent from a consideraacter and is particularlydesig'ned to befusedf in tion of thevfollowing detailed description. p a drawer having a channelled bottom ,dQ It com- .l05 I t The invention consists in the *several novel prises an elongated member 10which corre- I features hereinafter set forth and more particu sponds in length to the drawer D and is adapt larly defined by the claims at the conclusion ed to support in longitudinal'alignment:a'plu-. hereof. y rality of partitions or plates 11. The latterare In the drawingswhich accompany and form a preferably formed of sheet metal and 'forinbe tween them compartments 12 for the material to be filed. The width of the partitions is substan-' tially the same as that of the drawer so that the Compartments do not communicate with each other and the material cannot slip from one compartment to another. The top margins of the partitions are preferably extended so as to project upwardly of the sidesof the drawer D.,

fit snugglywithin the channel part of the draw er bottom and together form an open top chamber 16. The wings or flanges extend laterally from the top margins of the'sides 14 and rest directly upon the portions of the bottom 11 that are adjacent to the channel. ber is held against displacement when in its operative position in the drawer D by;means of tongues lL 'These tongues are formed integral- 1y withjthe wings 15 and project downwardly through holes 18 punched in the bottom (1. The lower ends of'the. tongues are bent or deflected laterally against the under face ofthe drawerbottom to form an interlock between the meme ber'll and the drawer D, Said member 11 ex emplifiespartition supporting means which may be applied to a drawer of the channelled'bottom type and is adapted to be substituted for or used in lieu of the usual follower-block and blockretaining means.

\ A rod 19 is positioned so as to extend longitudinally in the chamber 16. This rod is supported in 'spaced relation withrespect tothe' bottom 13 by a pair of upstanding pieces 20 and 21 which are formed integrally with the front and back' ends of the bottom 13, respectively, and form closures for the ends of the chamber 16. Cotter pins or similar retaining devices 22 extendtransversely through the ends'of the rod 19 and abut'against the outer faces of the pieces 20 and 21 to hold removably said rod in place.

:When these pins are withdrawn, the'jrod is free to "be-slid axially out ofits normal and opera" tive position. Each of the partitions 11 embodies a pair of metallic plates 23 and. 24. These plates fit againstthe front and backfaces of the partition; respectively and farefrigidly secured in placeadjacent the lattersbottom margin by rivets 25. Ears'23 and 24% are form d integrally with the lower portions of the plates 23 and 24.- respectively. Said ears depend from the plates and extend into the chamber 16. The rod 19v extends through. longitudinally aligned holes 26.

which are punched in the central portions of the ears-23 and 24 extending the rod in this mannerthe partitions are held against removal and are mounted. so]. that -they may be shifted back and forth substantially the entire length of the drawer D. Il -in advantage of utilizing a mount of this character ,is that the partitions maybe positioned readily when it is deemed desirable to increase or decrease the depth of the compartments 12; In addition it is not'noce'ssary to lift "the filed papers or material from. the forward compartments to the ones following in the event that said forward compartments become crowded beyond their capacity.

The partitions 11, stand substantially vertically and the lower edges thereof rest upon the wings -o'r' flanges l5. and 24 engage the sides of the rod 19 and form The lower parts of the ears 23 abutments or, stops which are operative in corn unction with the lower'edges' of the partitions The me'm-f to prevent the partitions from being displaced from their operative or upstanding position. In practice it has been found to 'be desirable to have the partitions normally inclined backwardv ly and free to swing a slight distance forward- 1y for the purpose of facilitating access to the papers in the compartments. Because of this fact the holes 26 are made larger than the diameter of ther'od 19 and so'that the abutmentforming parts of the ears 23 and 24 are positioned with respect to the lower edges of the partitions to cause saidpartitions normally to extend backwardly atfthe desired angle and to permit of swinging or limited pivoted movement.

The partitions 11 are held against transverse displacement by stops 2'7. which lap and sli dably engage the side portions of the rod 19. These stops are formed integrally with the ears. The partitions 11 are assembled with respect vto the supporting member '10 by holding them in their operativeposition with the ears of the plates 23 and 24 extending into the chamber 16, and Shift-.-

ing the rod 19 longitudinally through the holes swing forwardly and backwardly to a limited de- 'gree and may be adjusted longitudinally substantially the entirelength of the drawer.

Each of the partitions 11 is locked inits, as: I

signed position by an elongated vertically ex tending locking member 29. Thismember is preferably formed from a plate of sheet metal and the upper endthereof laps a tabll at the top margin of the partition.

titionso that it may be used ins'win'ging the partition back and forth. The member 29 engages against the front face of the partition and is slidably held by a sheath30 so that'it may be Said tab extends upwardly beyond the upper margin of the, parshifted vertically. The sheath is secured in place 5 by side flanges 31 which are soldered or welded to' the front face of the partition; The central "or body part of the sheath is spaced a su'flicientf distance from .the-frontf'a'ce of the member 253 to permit member to drop, when permittedyin response to the action of gravity, The lower end of the locking member. is provided with a pair of projections or teeth 32 and 33. The tooth 32 is. shorter than thetooth 33 and is adapted to cooperate with a longitudinally extending stationary lock bar 34 to hold the partition in any of its assigned positions. The lock bar corresponds. in length to the member 10 and has punched there ice in a longitudinal series of circular aperturesfi The latter are adapted to reoeivethetooth 32 of each member 29 for locking purposes.

I 7 When. the members 29 are raised, the teeth .32 are dis engaged from the locking bar andrthe partitions Q members 29 are recessed, as at 29*, to formnieans:

whereby the partitions may be released individually from their locked positions. The bar 34 isformed from a strip of sheet-metal and is suitably secured.to-themeeting margins of the side 14 and flange 15 atone side of. the supporting member 10. The apertures 35' are arranged in close proximity to-each other so that the partitions 11 may be locked-in Substantially any position along the member lilu The size of the apertures is such that movement of the'teeth 32 isnot impaired during rocking or swinging of the partitions.

The members 29 are conjointly locked and unlocked with respect to the bar 34 by an-elongated push bar 37. This'bar extends longitudinally'in the chamber 16 and is somewhat shorter than the partition-supporting member 10. It is formed from a strip or plate of sheet-metal and issbent to form a bottom 37 an upwardlyinclined side wall 37 and a shelf 37. The latter extends laterally from theupper margin of the side wall 37* and is positioned beneath the lock bar' 34. The bottom 37* rests directly upon the central part of the bottom 13. The inclined side wall 37 is in the nature of a cam which when shiftedsidewise or transversely of the chamber 16 engages the teeth 33 on the locking members'29 and raises them onto the shelf 37 'in which position the teeth 32 are disengaged from the lock bar 34 and the partitions are all free to be adjusted longitudinally in the drawer. The push bar 3'7 is adapted to be shifted transversely in response to longitudinal movement imparted thereto, by means of a pair of fixedly mounted pins 38. These pins project upwardly from the bottom 13 and extend through a pair of diagonal slots 39 in the ends of the bar bottom 37. The slots are preferably arranged so that when the push bar 37 is moved toward the front of the drawer the inclined side wall 37 is operative to engage and shift upwardly the teeth 33. When the push bar 37 is moved backwardly the pin and slot connections shift the. shelf 37 and the sidewall 3'7 out of contact with the teeth 33. This causes the locking member 2 9 to drop and results in the conjoint locking of the partitions 11.. Push and pull movement of the bar 37 is eife'cted by a rod 40 which is connected to a lug 41 on the front end of said bar 37 and extends forwardly through a horizontal-slotin the front of the drawer. A knob 42 is connected to the front end of the rod 40 so that the latter is readily shiftable from the outside of the drawer. g 1

In applying the filing device of Figures 1 to 4, the supporting member 10 is dropped into engagement with the channeled part of the drawer bottom after the usual follower-block and blockretaining means have been removed. The 111cm"- ber is held against displacement in this position by means of the tongues 17 which are clinched under the portions of the drawer bottom that'form the holes 18. 'The partitions 11 are adjusted into any desired position by raising the locking members 29 and sliding the partitions longitudinally of the rod 19'. The raisingof the members 29 may be accomplished individually by utilizing the recessedportions 29 or conjointly by use of the push bar 37.

The filing devicedisclosed in Figures 5, 6, 7 and 8, is more or less an integral part of the drawer D and comprises a sheet-metal. partition 111. The drawer withwhich this partition is associated consists. of'a bottom 1-12; sides'113, a front-114 and a back 115. The bottom is formed from a single plate -of'sheet-metal and has the side margins thereof bent to form a pair of hollow compartments 116. A pair of vertical sheetmetal racks 117 are positioned within the co-m partmen'ts 116 respectively and extend longitudinally therein. .These racks are arranged out.

wardly of the sides 113 and embody base portions 117 which aresoldered or otherwise'secured to the metal that forms the bottom parts of-the compartments. The partition is provided at the 7 bottom margin thereof witha transversely extending rod 118 having pinions'119 at'the ends' thereof. These pinions are located Within the compartments 116 and mesh with the racks 117 tion is'adjustablyiheld in the drawer. The sides 113 are secured to upwardly extending fianges'120 at theside margins of the bottom and are arranged so' that their bottom margins project.

downwardly into compartments 116 and bear against the ends of ther'ods'll8 in order to hold the pinions in mesh with the racks. 'The rods to form movable connections whereby the' parti- 118 are mounted in bearings 121 which areformed' by bending the bottom margins'of the partition 111 into tubular form. The upper margin of the partition is doubled back upon itselfand is extended laterally to form abutments 122. I These abutments cooperate with the top edges of the sides 113 to hold the partition in its backwardly inclined position. Adjustment of the partition is effected by swinging the latter vertically to disengage the abutments 122 from the subjacent edges of the sides and then 'moving it forwardly or backwardly into the desired position. During longitudinal movement the partition is supported solely by the rack and pinion connections by which means adjustment is facilitated. j 1

The central portion .of'the'drawer bottom 112 is bent toform a depending channel member 123 consisting of abottom 124 and sides 125.

The latter members form a longitudinal open top chamber 126. portion of the lower margin of the partition. 111

The metal adjacent the central' I forms a plate 127 which extends, downwardly into this chamber 126. The bottom part'of the plate 127 is bent upwardly to'form'atubular pin and the apertured. side member 130 The mount whereby the bar 130 is confined to transverse sliding movement only comprises tongues 132. These tongues are formed integrally with the bottom 124 and extend through and transversely' of slots 133 which are cut in the side margin of the bottom plate 130 opposite the side 7 member 130 The tongues 132, 'in,addition-to forming a sliding connectionfor the bar'13Q; co-

nal guides for a push bar 134; This push 'ba'r fits-upon the top face of the" lock bar and is adapted to be'reciprocated forwardly and backs wardly by a rod 135; The-ends of the'bar 134 have formed therein diagonal slots. 136. 'Upa standing pins 137 on' thebottomplate 130*" project through these slots. When thepush' bar is reciprocated the portionswhich form the slots- 136 operate to effect transverse shift movement 130 of effecting engagement or disengagement of the 14c act with one of the sides 125 to form longitudi desired'to the. filed papers.

of the lock bar through theinstrumentality of the pin and slot connections. The slots 136 are preferably arranged so that when the push bar ;134-is pulled toward the front of the drawer the lock bar is shifted away from the pin 129 and the'oppositev direction and effects engagement of the pin' and the side member l I In this position of the looking members the partition is locked in place against longitudinal "displacement. The aperturesj131 are similar to theapertures in that they are arrangedin close proximity' to' each other and are of such size that movemei t of the pin 129 is not impaired when the. partition is swungforwardly when access is The pin 129 is slidable in the bearings 128 and ispressed outwardly be modified within the scope of the appended is adjustable longitudinally in the drawer by moving it reetilinearly only, and means includ- ;-ing {ajmovable element in the, channel for locl:-

'ing movement of said partition,

by a spring 138 so that it yields when it is posi tioned out of alignment with respect to the apertures, and snaps into place when it is afterwards moved into alignment. The spring 138 is confined against axial displacement by a tongue 139 which is formed from the bearing 128. The movement of the pin 129 is limited by a tongue 140 which cooperates'with a reduced stem portion. of the pin and is also formed from the bearing 128. The rod 135 extends through a hole lei in the drawer front 114 and is provided with a knob 142. The inward movement of the lock bar 130 is limitedby a stop lug 143 which is secured to theinner face of said drawer front.

The filing devices disclosed herein consist essentially of but a few partsand may be manufactured at a comparatively low cost since sheetmetal maybe used to good advantage throughout.

The invention is not to be understood as restricted to the details set forth, since these may claims, without-departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. J 1

Having thus described the invention, what I claimas new and desire to secure by Letters Patent,is': A J a 1. The combination with a filing drawer, of a rod positioned in the bottom part and extenda ing longitudinally of the drawer, a substantially vertical partition arranged with respect to the drawer and connected at the lower end thereof to the rod. so that it is free to swing forwards and backwards to alimited extent andis adjustable longitudinally in the'drawer by moving it rectilinearly only, and means for locking thegpartition ,inits various adjusted positions and atthe same time permitting of limited swinging movement of said partition. I i g 1 Y 2. The combination with a filing drawer having a longitudinal channel formed in the bottom thereof, of a rodidisposed in the channel, a partition extending substantially vertically and provided at its; lower end with means whereby itis connected to therodsothat it is free to swing forwardslandbackwards to a limited extent and ing the partitionin its-various adjusted positions and at the same time perrnitting of limited swing- 3. In combination, adrawer, an upstanding partition disposed in the drawer'and .mounted.

so that it is free to be swung forwardlyand backwardly: and shifted bodily longitudinally of the.

draweryand means for locking 'thepartition in'its various shifted positions and at the same time permitting of limited swinging movementof said partition comprising a fixed, elongated member positioned longitudinally of the drawer and'ad- .jacent the drawer bottom and having a longitudinal series of apertures therein, and a'coacting locking member movably mounted on the partition and having an end thereof shiftable into interlocked relation with the apertures; 1 i 4. In combination, a drawer, an upstandin partition disposedin the drawer and'mounted so that it is free to be swung forwardl-yan'd backmetal member mounted fixedly adjacent the drawer'bottom and so that it extends lengthwise of the drawer and having a series of apertures ex- 1 tending substantially from one end thereof to-the other, and a coacting lockingme'mber slidable vertically on the partition and'arranged so that the lower end thereof is shiftable into interlocked relation with the apertures.

5. In combination, a drawer, an upstanding partition disposed in the drawer and mounted so that it is free to be swung forwardly and backwardly and shifted bodily'longitudinally ofthe drawer, means for locking the partition in its various assigned positions and at the same time permitting limited swinging movement of the partition comprising anelongated, flat, sheet metal member mounted fixedly adjacent the drawer 1'10 bottom and so that it extends lengthwise of the drawerand having a series of apertures extending substantially from one end thereof 'to the 0ther,= and a coacting looking member slidable vertically on the partition and arranged so that 115 the lower end thereof is shiftable into interlocked relation with the aperturesgand means'controlled from the front of the drawer ,for shifting the locking member out of its operative position in order to release or unlock the partition so that it is free for longitudinal shift.

6. In combination, a" drawer, an upstanding partition in the'drawe'r mounted so that it may be shifted toward the front and-back of the drawer, means for locking the partition in its varione assigned positions comprising an elongated member positioned lengthwise of the drawerand adjacentl'the drawer bottom and having a series of apertures extending substantially from one end thereof to the other, and a coacting'locking member movably mounted 'on the partition and arranged so that an end thereof is shiftable into interlockedirelation with the aperture, andimeans controlled from the-front of the drawer and in-' cluding a transversely movable element, for shifting the locking member into'an inoperative posi- 'tion in order to release the partition forshifting purposes. 1 7 w 7. The combination .witha filing drawer hav-' ing a longitudinal channel formed in the bottom thereof, of an upstandingpartition disposed in I the drawer and' mounted so that it may be shifted locking member slidable vertically on the partition and arranged so that in response to the action of gravity the lower end thereof drops into interlocked relation with the apertures.

8. The combination with a filing drawer having a longitudinal channel formed in the bottom thereof, of an upstanding partition disposed in the drawer and mounted so that it may be shifted toward the front and back of the drawer, means for locking the partition in its various assigned positions comprising an elongated member mounted in a fixed position directly over and lengthwise of the channel and having a series of apertures extending from substantially one end thereof to the other, and a coacting locking member slidable vertically on the partition and arranged so that in response to the action of gravity the lower end thereofv drops into interlocked relation with the apertures, and means controlled from the front of the drawer and located within the channel, for raising the locking member into an inoperative position wherein the partition is free for shift thereof.

9. In combination, a filing drawer having a longitudinal channel formed in substantially the central portion of the bottom thereof, an upstanding partition in the drawer, a device confined removably within the channel and operative to support the partition so that it is free to be swung forwardly and backwardly and shifted bodily longitudinally in the drawer, and means for locking the partition in its various shifted positions and at the same time permitting of limited swinging movement of said partition.

10. The combination with a filing drawer having a longitudinal channel formed in the bottom thereof, of a rod disposed lengthwise in the channel, a partition extending substantially vertical and provided at the lower end with means whereby it is connected to the rod so that it is supported for limited swinging movement and bodily adjustment longitudinally in the drawer, means for locking the partition in its various adjusted positions and at the same time permitting of limited swinging movement of said partition, and means within the channel for releasing the locking means in order to free the partition for longitudinal shift in the drawer.

11. In combination with a drawer, an upstanding' partition disposed in the drawer and mounted so that it is free to be swung forwardly and backwardly and shifted bodily longitudinally in the drawer, and means for locking the partition in its various assigned positions'and at the same time permitting of limited swinging movement of said partition comprising a locking .member mounted on the partition so that it extends substantially horizontally, and an elongated member extending lengthwise of the drawer and having a longitudinal series of apertures from one end thereof to the other for receivingone end of the locking member and mounted so that it is shiftable horizontally and transversely of the drawer in order to bring the aperture opposite thecoacting locking member into interlocked relation with the latter for partition-locking purposes.

12. The combination with-a filing drawer hav-i ing'a longitudinal channel formed in the bottom thereof of an upstanding partition disposed in the drawer and mountedso that it may be shifted toward the front and back of the drawer, and

means for'locking the'partition in its various assigned positions comprising a horizontally extending locking member connected to the bottom of the partition and disposed in the channel, and

an elongated element extending longitudinally the channel and having a longitudinal series of apertures from'one end thereof to the other for,

signed positions comprising a horizontally lockingmember connected to the bottom of the partition and disposed in the channel, an elongated element extending longitudinally in the channel and having a longitudin'al'series of apertures from one end thereof to the other for receiving one end of the locking member and mounted so thatit is shiftable horizontally and transversely of the drawer in order to bring the aperture opposite the coactinglocking member into interlocked relation with the latter for partition-locking purposes, and means controlled from the front of the drawer and disposed inthe channel for shifting the elongated member.

14. The combination with'a filing drawer havthereof, of an upstanding partitiondisposed in the drawer and mounted so that it is free to be swung forwardly and backwardly andshifted bodily longitudinally of the drawer, a pair of coacting elements carried respectively by the par- I ing a longitudinal channel formed in the bottom tition and the drawer bottom and operative to extending through the front of the drawer where by it may be manually manipulated.

'JOSEPI-I c. sEYn; 

